Hydraulic auto winch

ABSTRACT

The winch drum is mounted on the shaft of a hydraulic motor which is contained within the drum. One end of the motor protrudes from an end of the drum and is supported in cantilever fashion by a bracket which may be mounted on an automobile in a variety of different positions as, for example, on a bumper. This mounting arrangement leaves one end of the drum unobstructed to loop on a few turns of cable for alternative capstan type operation. The motor may be operated by fluid pressure from the power steering pump of an automobile or from a hydraulic pressure system on a boat.

ilnited States Patent Johnson Jan. 29, 1974 HYDRAULIC AUTO WINCH PrimaryExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.lames L. Rowland [76] Inventorma ygg igfigg g i f Attorney, Agent, or FirmLee R. Schermerhom [22]Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 226,736 [57] ABSTRACT The winch drumis mounted on the shaft of a hydrau- 63 R el.ated lfj's' g t fm i f l 6[970 he motor which is contained within the drum. One end WG Jf 0 u y ofthe motor protrudes from an end of the drum and is 52 a 254/150 FH 254M)supported in cantilever fashion by a bracket which I B66d 3/18 may bemounted on an automobile in a variety of dif- 186 ferent positions as,for example, on a bumper. This 1. le 0 2 2 86 mounting arrangementleaves one end of the drum unobstructed to loop on a few turns of cablefor alternative capstan type operation. The motor may be oper- [56]References Cited ated by fluid pressure from the power steering pumpUNITED STATES PATENTS of an automobile or from a hydraulic pressuresystem 3,150,842 9/1964 Weber 242/86.5 on a boat. 2,289,387 7/1942Stephens 254/150 FH X 1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJANZSIQM sum 10F 2 lNl/ENTOR GEORGE VERNE JOHNSON Attorne PAIENIED JAN 2 9 m4 sum 2 or2 I/VVE/VTOR GEORGE VERNE JOHNSON Attorne HYDRAULIC AUTO WINCHCROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation of U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 52,173, now abandoned, filed July 6,1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hydraulic winchparticularly for automobiles and boats.

Auto winches have heretofore been driven by electric motors energizedfrom the auto battery. The limited capacity of an auto battery, even innew condition, seriously restricts the usefulness of such a winch, and,if the battery is not in new condition and well charged, the powerdemands of the winch will quickly exhaust the battery.

Also, electric winches are quite complicated and expensive, as theyrequire some type of reduction gearing, a brake, and a complicated andrather delicate control system involving variousswitches and relays andthe like. The size of this equipment requires the winch to be mounted infront of the bumper or above the bumper, making an unsightly accessoryon the auto and leaving the winch exposed to damage. A conventionalbumper installation mounting on an auto does not provide sufficientspace behind the bumper for an electric winch with its large motor andreduction gearing'. If it is desired to install such a winch behind thebumper, the bumper brackets must be extended to space the bumper fartherthan normal away from the car.

Objects of the invention are, therefore, to provide an improved autowinch, to provide a winch which may be used as a capstan on anautomobile or boat, to provide an auto winch driven by a hydraulic motoroperated from the power steering pump of the auto, to provide a compactwinch assembly which may be unobtrusively installed in a protectedposition behind an auto bumper without altering the factory bumpermounting, to provide a winch which is adapted for convenient applicationto a conventional type of compact, low speed, high torque, reversibleoil motor, and to provide a rugged and durable winch of the typedescribed which is of relatively simple and inexpensive constructionhaving relatively few parts to manufacture and maintain in goodoperating condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present construction the winch drum ismounted on a shaft extending from one end of a hydraulic motor. Theopposite end of the motor housing projects from the opposite end of thedrum for cantilever support by a bumper bracket or other supportingbracket. The motor and drum assembly are so compact, with the motorcontained within the drum, that it is possible to mount the unit inavailable space behind a conventional bumper without altering thebumper. The cantilever mounting of the motor and drum leaves one end ofthe drum unobstructed for use as a capstan if desired.

The hydraulic motor is operated from the power steering pump of an auto.This is feasible because during winch operation little or no steeringfunction is ordinarily required. The winch may be operated for anindefinite period of time as long as there is fuel to run the autoengine. The winch motor operates in the normal pressure range of aconventional power steering pump and does not overload or damage thepump. The winch is also adapted for use on a boat.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiments illustrated on the accompanying drawings.Various changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others.All such modifications within the scope of the appended claims areincluded in the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic bottom plan viewof the front end of an automobile equipped with a winch embodying theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view on the line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the winch and its mountingbracket;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the winch of FIG. 5mounted on a bumper for operation as a capstan; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, with parts broken away, showing thewinch mounted as a vertical capstan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 the automobile 10 hasa conventional front bumper 11, engine 12 and power steering pump 13. Awinch 15 embodying the invention is mounted on front bumper 11, althoughit is to be understood that the winch may be mounted on the rear bumperor elsewhere on the auto, if desired.

Winch 15 is supported by a single bracket arm 20 mounted on the rear ofbumper ll. Bracket arm 20 is welded to a support plate 21 which receivesupper and lower bolts 22 passing through the bumper. The lower bolts 22secure a clamp plate 23 on the front of the bumper. Clamp plate 23 hasan upstanding flange 24 for mounting the license plate 25. Parts 20 and21 together may be considered as an L-shaped bracket, the plate 21 beinggenerally parallel with the axis of the winch drum.

Clamp plate 23 is also equipped with an eye 26 to receive a pin 27 andclevis 28 on the free end of wire rope 30. By connecting clevis 28 witheye 26 as shown in FIG. 2, the load may be connected to a pulley block31 at a bight in the rope for operating the winch with a two-part line.Additional pulley blocks may be employed to provide a three-part line orfour-part line when greater mechanical advantage is desired. The winchmay be operated with a one-part line by connecting the load to clevis 28without using the eye 26 and pulley block 31, as shown in FIG. 1.

Bracket unit 20, 21 is equipped with a pair of horizontal fair leadrollers 35 and a pair of vertical fair-lead rollers 36 which form a ropeguide under the lower edge of the bumper. The rear end of bracket arm 20contains a semi-cylindrical recess 39 to cooperate with a complementarysemi-cylindrical clamp 40 secured to the arm by cap screws 41. Clamp 40secures and provides cantilever support for a cylindrical end ofhydraulic motor housing 45. Immediately above recess 39 the arm 20 hasan opening 46 for a pair of hydraulic lines 47 connected with the motor.

Motor shaft 50 projects from the opposite end of motor housing 45 and isconnected closely adjacent said opposite end of motor housing 45 with ahub 51 in the corresponding end of winch drum 52. Thus, one end of motorhousing 45 has cantilever support in bracket arm 20 and the opposite endof winch drum 52 has cantilever support on motor shaft 50 with the motorhousing contained within the drum as shown in FIG. 3. This leaves thehub end of the drum unobstructed for looping a few turns of the ropearound the drum when it is desired to use the drum as a capstan.

In such use the rope is not anchored to the drum as shown in FIG. 3; theoperator tensions a free end of the rope to effect frictional engagementbetween the rope and drum when traction is desired. When the operatorrelaxes tension on the free end of the rope, the drum rotates within theseveral turns of rope without exerting traction on the rope. Thetractive effort on the rope may be controlled by varying the amount ofmanual tension applied to the free end of the rope, causing the drum toslip within the lightly tensioned loops of rope.

Hub 51 is secured to shaft 50 by suitable means such as key 53 andsetscrew 54. Preferably, the hub is connected to drum 52 by a radial web55 a short distance from the end of the drum to reduce the length of thecantilever arm between web 55 and the opposite end of the drum. Thisallows a considerable number of turns of the rope to lay to the right ofweb 55 in FIG. 3 and still permits the motor to be contained within thedrum.

The winch is controlled by a valve 60 connected between steering pump 13and the hydraulic connections 47 to the motor. Valve 60 has an operatinglever 61 which is accessible above the bumper and in front of the autoradiator. Placing the valve lever in one limit position connects pumppressure to one line 47 and connects the other line 47 to the suctionside of the pump for rotation of drum 52 in one direction. Shiftinglever 61 to its opposite limit position connects the one line 47 tosuction and the other to pump pressure'for rotation of drum 52 in theopposite direction.

Placing lever 61 in mid position closes both lines 47 at the valve,preventing circulation of hydraulic fluid through the motor. Thisoperates as a brake on the winch, making a friction brake unnecessary.The motor is a displacement type such as a vane or gear type which ishydraulically locked, or at least effectively retarded, by stopping thefluid flow. When the two lines 47 are both closed at valve 60, the pump13 discharges through a built-in relief valve as in normal operation ofthe vehicle when there are no steering movements. If desired, the valvelever 61 may also be manipulated by a cable control extending to theinstrument panel of the auto.

Motor 45 is a conventional type of compact, low speed, high torque,reversible oil motor available on the market. These characteristics makeit practical to drive the winch drum directly without reduction gearingand the hydraulic pressure available from a conventional power steeringpump is sufficient to produce the desired torque in a motor small enoughto be contained within a winch drum of suitable diameter for a size ofrope 30 which will withstand the maximum tension developed by the motor.When an excessive length of rope is needed, the winch may be operated asa capstan as above described.

The present winch may be mounted with equal facility on the rear bumperof an auto for pulling a boat out of water and onto a boat trailer orfor other purposes. The winch will operate under water or mud. In eitherfront or rear end locations, the conventional bumper -mountings on mostautos provide sufficient available space behind the bumper toaccommodate the winch without altering the bumper mounting. Thus mountedin protected position, the winch assembly is substantially entirely outof sight and does not project outward or upward from the bumper todetract from the appearance of the auto. The loading on the winch andthe duration of its operation are not dependent on the capacity orcondition of the auto battery and the winch does not impose anelectrical load on the battery which in the case of conventional winchesshortens the life of the battery.

The hydraulic power requirements of the winch motor are entirely withinthe normal capabilities of standard power steering pumps whereby thewinch cannot damage the pump. The normal power steering function of theauto is not impaired because steering requirements are minimal when thewinch is in operation. Ordinarily, the vehicle is standing still whilethe winch is operating.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a modification omitting the fairlead as a part of thewinch. In FIG. 5, automobile 65 has a pair of longitudinal frame members66 which are interconnected by a front bumper 67 and a transverse framemember 68. A separate fair-lead 70 having a pair of horizontal rollers35 and a pair of vertical rollers 36 is mounted on the front of thebumper by means of bolts 22. Winch drum 71 is mounted on transverseframe member 68.

As shown in FIG. 7, winch drum 71 is supported by an internal web 72welded on a hub 73 which is pressed and keyed on the shaft 74 extendingfrom one end of hydraulic motor 75, hub 73 being closely adjacent saidend of motor 75. The drum comprises a pair of bellshaped members weldedtogether back to back with their abutting end walls forming the web 72.Hydraulic lines 47 extend between the drum and motor as shown in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the motor housing is clamped by a one-piece supportingbracket arm 76. The end of the bracket arm is split at 77 between twobosses 78 which receive a clamping screw 79. The wall of a cylindricalopening 80 in the bracket arm securely grips the cylindrical motorhousing when screw 79 is tightened. These parts form a split collarclamp.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the bracket arm 76 is of L- shaped having aportion extending parallel with the axis of the drum. Wide portions ofthe arm 85 which receive four bolts 86 are visible in FIG. 5. Stillreferring to FIG. 5, bolts 86 extend through arm 85, a mounting plate 87and the vertical web of frame member 68. Plate 87 serves as astrengthening member for the vertical web of frame member 68 and iswelded at 88 to the web after the holes for bolts 86 have been drilledin the web. It will be observed that bolts 86 are located closer to theupper edge of the plate than to its lower edge. Thus, by turning plate87 around to reverse the positions of its upper and lower edges, thewinch may be lowered to its broken line position at 71a, if desired.This provides vertical adjustment .in installing the winch. It will alsobe observed that bracket arm 76 is offset below the axis of the winch.Thus, additional vertical adjustment may be obtained by turning thewinch over so as to place bracket arm 76 on the far end of the winchdrum instead of the near end. This will lower the winch drum anadditional increment.

By mounting fair-lead 70 on the front of the bumper, the line 30 mayextend in a vertical direction from the upper fair-lead roller 35 asshown in broken lines at 39a, if desired. This position of the linewould be of advantage, for example, in lifting the front end of thevehicle. Eye 26 provides for using a two or more part line foradditional mechanical advantage as described in connection with FIG. 2.

In FIG. 6 the winch 711 is mounted by bolts 86 on a bracket 90 on thefront of the bumper 67. This mounting arrangement is convenient in usingthe winch drum as a capstan, without the fair-lead 70. The end 91 of thedrum being free and unobstructed, the operator may loop a few turns ofthe line 30 over this end of the drum and then tighten the turns ofcable on the drum by hand, as shown, to control the movement of thecable in the directions of the arrows. This capstan-type of operationmakes it possible to use a line which is too long to be contained on thedrum with one end anchored to the drum in normal manner.

FIG. 7 shows how the winch may be mounted in vertical position for useas a capstan on fishing and other small boats where hydraulic power isavailable to operate the motor 75. In this case the bracket 95 is simplya split ring clamp having a clamp screw 79 to clamp the motor casing asdescribed in connection with FIG. 5 and having two opposite flat sidesto receive cap screws 96 in the ends of a U-shaped support bracket 97.Bracket 97 may be mounted on any suitable part of the boat structure asindicated at 98. A similar mounting arrangement may be employed on anautomobile, if desired, using the steering pump 13 and control valve inFIG. 11.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may beused, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A winch comprising a hydraulic motor having an elongated casing, anaxial drive shaft extending from one end of said casing, a winch drumsurrounding said one end of said casing and having a hub mounted on saiddrive shaft closely adjacent said one end of said casing, said hubproviding the sole support for said drum, the opposite end of said motorcasing projecting from one end of said drum, an L-shaped supportingbracket having a base portion parallel with and alongside said drum andan arm portion radial to said casing and drum, said arm portion havingan opening receiving said opposite end of said motor casing, a pair ofbosses on the end of said arm receiving a clamp screw, said arm beingsplit between said bosses from said one end of the arm to said openingforming a split collar clamp whereby said clamp screw clamps said motorcasing in said opening to support said motor and winch drum, hydrauliclines extending from said motor between said casing and drum, andopenings in said arm for said hydraulic lines, the opposite end of saiddrum being unobstructed to receive loops of rope for operation as acapstan.

1. A winch comprising a hydraulic motor having an elongated casing, anaxial drive shaft extending from one end of said casing, a winch drumsurrounding said one end of said casing and having a hub mounted on saiddrive shaft closely adjacent said one end of said casing, said hubproviding the sole support for said drum, the opposite end of said motorcasing projecting from one end of said drum, an L-shaped supportingbracket having a base portion parallel with and alongside said drum andan arm portion radial to said casing and drum, said arm portion havingan opening receiving said opposite end of said motor casing, a pair ofbosses on the end of said arm receiving a clamp screw, said arm beingsplit between said bosses from said one end of the arm to said openingforming a split collar clamp whereby said clamp screw clamps said motorcasing in said opening to support said motor and winch drum, hydrauliclines extending from said motor between said casing and drum, andopenings in said arm for said hydraulic lines, the opposite end of saiddrum being unobstructed to receive loops of rope for operation as acapstan.